New €43M council office build in Monaghan before year end

Members approve €38M loan for project

Monaghan County Council is set to begin developing new civic offices at a site at Rooskey in the centre of Monaghan Town, at a projected cost of €43.57 million, before year end. Elected members voted 15-2 at a special meeting on Monday in favour of proceeding with the project.

A similar vote approved the borrowing of €38M towards the cost of the build, with the difference to be met from existing financial provisions for new offices built up by the council in recent years.

The local authority will borrow the money on a 30-year fixed term loan from the Housing Finance Agency at a rate of 3.3%, leading to interest payments totalling €22M.

Councillors were assured on Monday that approving the project will not lead to an increased rates burden on businesses or negatively impact Council services or other capital projects. Consolidating council operations in a “one-stop shop” will generate savings of approximately €648,000 per annum and save €24.2M in rental expenses, according to a business case circulated to members.

A contract will now be awarded for the building of the offices with a view to work commencing before the end of the year and the project being delivered in 2029. In addition to staff accommodation and facilities, the civic offices will house a public service reception area, a council chamber and meeting rooms, with car-parking and landscaping elements. It will occupy a 5,700 square metre footprint at the centre of an area of Monaghan Town earmarked for a major urban regeneration project in the coming years.

Cllr Seamus Treanor (Ind), a vociferous opponent of the project, made an unsuccessful last-ditch appeal on Monday for it to be “put on the long finger”, branding it “a luxury we can’t afford”. The other councillor to vote against, FF’s P.J. O’Hanlon, presented his own detailed case to the meeting citing concerns in relation to the possibility of project costs escalating over the construction period, the impact of AI and hybrid working on future council staffing needs and the competing demands of other priorities such as housing, roads and town and village regeneration.

Cross party support from the remaining councillors present came when they voted in favour of the development, with only Cllr Seamus Coyle (FF) absent for medical reasons. However, Cllr Raymond Aughey (FF) read a message on his behalf indicating his backing for the project.

A formal motion to proceed was moved by Cllr Alan Johnston (FG), seconded by Cllr Niamh McCooey (SF); with the motion to raise the loan also passed.

* For the full debate from the special council meeting, see this week's print edition of The Anglo-Celt.

Immediately following the meeting, and the councillors' sanctioning of the project, the local authority issued a statement.

Cathaoirleach of Monaghan County Council, Cllr Aidan Campbell, said: “Today’s decision follows detailed consideration of the final business case and the information presented to elected members over a number of years. Members have approved a project that is intended to address long-standing accommodation challenges, improve access to Council services and provide modern civic facilities for County Monaghan. The decision reflects the importance of ensuring that local government services are delivered from facilities that are accessible, efficient and fit for purpose.”

Chief Executive Robert Burns said: "The approval of this project provides clarity on a long-term accommodation strategy for Monaghan County Council and allows the organisation to move forward with the delivery phase of the development. The new Civic Offices will provide a modern, accessible and energy-efficient headquarters capable of supporting service delivery, local democracy and organisational needs into the future.

"The project has undergone extensive assessment, design development, procurement, and financial appraisal over a number of years. The focus now will be on progressing the necessary contractual and governance processes and ensuring the project is delivered in a planned and sustainable manner."

Subject to the completion of contractual processes, construction is expected to commence later this year, with completion and occupation anticipated in 2029.